Linen-straightening mechanism for laundry mangles



Oct. 11.1921, GM BACON 1,645,036

LINEN STRAIGHTENING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY MANGLES \Filed Jan. 21, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet mllllmll w XNVENTOR Oct. 11 1927.

G. M. BACON LINEN STRAIGHTENING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY MANGLES' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.2l, 1925 g u a Patented Get. 11, 1927.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE IzI. BACON, F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO A. K. MORGAN, OF

CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

LINEN-STRAIGHTENING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY MANGLES.

Application filed January 21, 1925.

My invention relates more particularly to the application of mechanical means for straightening linen and feeding it to laundry mangles, so as to facilitate the ironing of such articles without wrinkles and to elimihate to a considerable extent, the hand work previously required.

The primary object, therefore, of my improvement is to provide laundry mangles or ironing machines of the type wherein linens are ironed by passing them between heated rollers, with mechanical means for straightening and removing the wrinkles from the linen articles and simultaneously feed the same to the mangle rollers between which they may be ironed smooth as is required in producing the most satisfactory work.

Obviously, the quality and condition of one batch of linen may be different from that of another, so that the amount of straightening efi'ect required may vary and, therefore,

a further object of my improvement is to providemeans whereby the straightening effect of the rollers may be varied readily and quickly by manual means under control of the operator.

A. further objectis to provide for the simultaneous and uniform rotation of all of the straightening rollers and to synchronize such rotation with the feeding tapes for the mangle, so that the linen may bestraightcned and uniformly fed through the ironing 7 rolls.

In order to illustrate how my invention may be carried out, I have shown, in the accompanying drawings, one form of my improvement, as applied to one form of the ordinary laundry mangle. Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of one unit of my improvement; Fig. 2 shows a plan view with the superstructures removed on the line 22' of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, including a part of H the mangle; Fig. 4 shows a detail cross section on the line l l of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 shows ahorizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that my improvement comprises a table 1, upon which the linen to be straightened and fed to the mangle may be placed. This table extends throughout the width ofthe mangle parallel to the axes of the ironing rolls 2 of the mangle, substantially as indicated in Fig.

surface of the table.

Serial No. 3,744.

3 of the drawings. The mangle is provided with the usual band or tapes 3, for conduct mg the linen between the ironing rolls 2 and the table 1 is provided with a thin edge at 4, extending to the tapes and lying almost in contact therewith, so as to facilitate the transfer of the linen from the surface of the table to the tapes, so that it may be readily carried to the ironing rolls.

Uniformly spaced along the table 1, I preferably provide a. plurality of pairs of small straightening rollers 5, the rollers of each pair being mounted V-shaped at an angle to each other, so that their surfaces may cooperate'with the upper surface of the table for straightening and feeding the linen across the surface of the table and on to the tapes 3, as previously explained. A

In order to provide for the free and unobstructed passage of linen across the table 1 and under the pairs of straightening rollers 5, it is necessary to provide for rotating the rollers and holding them in proper relation to the mangle by providing suitable means for this purpose, located entirely above the For this purpose, the ends of the table may be provided with upright standards or posts 6, supporting a cross beam or plate 7, from which depend at proper spaced positions, suitable supporting posts 8, the lower ends of which do not extend to the surface of the table. Hinged or pivotally mounted upon the depending post 8 are two angle brackets 9 with laterally extending lugs 10, 11 and 12, which are peror pivot on a stud 13 secured in the lower 9 end of the post 8, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower lugs 12 are pivotallysecured together by a bolt or rivet 14.

As more particularly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the angle brackets 9 are provided with laterally extending tubular spindles 16, which are adapted to rotatably support the respective straightening rollers 5. In order to rotate the straightening rollers 5 of each pair in unison, they may be connected together by a universal joint 17 or other suitable flexible shaft connection As indicated in the drawings, the yoke or fork 18 of the universal connection is mounted upon the end of a. shaft 19, extending effe t th eb on th l nen through the tubular spindle support 16 into a hub 20, carried by an internal web or spokes 21, within the respective straightening rollers 5, therollers being secured to the shafts 19 by means of set screws 22 as shown in Fi 5.

The point of the V or angle of intersection of the axes of the rollers in the universal joint 17 is preferably in line with the axis of the supporting post 8, so that the straightening rollers may be rotated about the suspension post 8 to vary the angle between the rollers, and thereby vary the straightening effect on the linen as it is fed across the table] The angles which the respective rollers 5 of each pair make to the edge of the table which lies adjacent to the feeding tapes 3, should be approximately equal at all times in order to uniformly straighten the linen and feed it forward on to the mangle feeding tapes in the direction'of motion of the latter.

In order to maintain the rollers 5 at equal angles to the direction of feed and to provide for adjusting the angle between the straightening rollers to vary the straightening effect, I preferably provide a screw 23 shouldered at 24 where it passes through a hole in the supporting post 8, and is freely rotatable therein. The screw 23 is held in place by a suitable collar 25, as is indicated in Figs. 3 and 4: of the drawings. The screw 23 is provided with a nut 26 having slotted arms 27 extending laterally at right angles to the axis of the post 8 and adapted to engage the forward edges of the angle brackets 9, as shown in the drawings. The

arms 27 are provided with slots at 28, which engage pins 29 (see Fig. l) projecting from the edges of the angle brackets 9, thereby providing means for preventing rotation ,of the nut 26 when the screw 23 is rotated.

The rotation of the straightening rollers 5 being outward, would naturally tend to swing the respective rollers 5 outward around the supporting post 8, so as to lessen thefV angle between the rollers, but it is desirable not to depend upon this to keep the angle brackets 9 in contact with the arms 27 of the nut 26 on the screw 23 and I preferably provide a spring 30 for this purpose, the ends of which engage the opposite edges of the angle brackets 9, as will be seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings. 13y this arrangement, it will be seen that the'angle between the pair of straightening rollers 5 may be varied by rotating the screw 23, by means of the hand wheel 31, so as to move the straightening rollers bodily about the suspension post 8 asa' center, and by turning the screw 23 one way or the other, the angle between the rollers can be readily adjusted to increase or decrease the straightening t'is desirableto rotate the straightening rollers 5 in unison and in the present arrangement, this is accomplished by connect .ing the two rollers of each unit together by a flexible shaft connection, .such as the universal 'oint 17 and arovidin belts or l l a:

vided with hubs 32, carried at the inner ends of the respective rollers by suitable spokes 33, the hubs being bored out to fit loosely over the tubular spindles 16, as more particularly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Preferably, one of hubs 32 is provided with a pulley 34, secured thereto and connected by means of a belt 35 with a pulley 36 mounted on a counter shaft 37, located parallel to and above the table in suitable pillow blocks 38 on the transverse beam or plate 7, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. In this manner, any number of pairs or units of the straightening mechanism may be simultaneously operated by being belted to the counter shaft 37 and the latter may be rotated in any suitable manner. Preferably, however, since it is'desirable to rotate the straightening rollers in synchronism with the feeding belt or tapes 3, the count-er shaft 37 is preferably rotated from some rotating member of the mangle as, for instance, from a pulley 39 on the end of the roller 10 over which the feeding tapes 3 pass, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the draw-,

ings, a belt 11 being provided for transmit- 'ting power to the counter shaft 37. y

In the operation of my improved linen straightening mechanism, it will be understood that a plurality of units or pairs of straightening rollers 5 are preferably mounted across the width of the machine, the nunr berdepending upon thespacing between the units and the length of the mangle ironing rolls. From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the linen articles to be ironed are spread along the forwardedge of the table 1 and moved rearward until they are graspezlby the straightening rollers 5, which will straighten out the wrinkles and feed the linen across the table and on to the band or feeding tapes 3, which will conductthe linen between the ironing rolls 2. The operator by observing the effect of the straightening rollers 5 on the linen passing thereunder and across thetable can readily adjust- .the straightening effect of the in dividual units by means of 'the screws and hand wheels 31, so asto make the V angle may be required. I

While I have shown and-described one form and adaptationof my improved linen straightening mechanism for laundry ii-angles, it will-beunderstood that many of between the rollers either more or less as the details may be 'ino'dified, such est-he driving connections to the straightening to be limited to the specific construction shown, for obviously, various modifications in the specific details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim z- 1. A linen wrinkle-straightening mechanism comprising a table, power driven rollers, rotatably supported above and in cooperative relation to said table, for engaging and straightening wrinkles in linen 1nserted between the table and the rollers and for feeding the linen across the table, said rollers being rotatable at an angle to each other and to the direction of feed across the table.

2. The linen wrinkle-straightening mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which means is provided for adjusting the angle between said power driven rollers to vary the wrinkle-straightening effect thereof.

3. A linen wrinkle-straightening mechanism, comprising a table having a thin metal plate top, a pair of power driven rollers mounted above and in cooperative relation to said table top, said rollers being arranged at an angle to each other and to the edge of said table for straightening the wrinkles in linen fed between said rollers and the table, means for adjusting the angle of the rollers to each other and power means for simultaneously rotating said rollers.

a. The linen wrinkle-straightening mechani m as claimed in claim 3, in which said rollers are supported by a pair of angle brackets pivotally mounted on a fixed sup port above said table and said means for adjusting the angle of the rollers is carried by said fixed support. 7

5. A linen wrinkle-straightening mechanism, comprising a table, a pair of power driven rollers mounted for rotation in cooperative relation with the upper surface of the table, a flexible connection bet-ween said rollers, whereby they are rotatable in unison while permitting angular movement therebetween, a pivot post for holding said rollers in fixed angular position relative to each other, and means for moving said rollers about the axis of said post to vary the angle between the rollers.

6. The linen wrinkle-straightening mechanism as claimed in claim 5, in which said rollers are rotatably supported on angle brackets pivoted on said post and means is carried by said post for moving said angle brackets to vary the angle between said rollers.

7. The linen wringle-straightening mechanism as claimed in claim 5, in which means is provided for rotating said rollers simultaneously and in unison.

8. A linen wrinkle-straightening mechaanism comprising a table, a plurality of rollers mounted above said table for straightening wrinkles in and feeding linen across the table, the rollers being at an angle to each other and to the edge of the table, means for simultaneously rotating said rollers and means for shifting said rollers angularly to vary the angle between the respective rollers.

9. The linen wrinklestraightening mechanism as claimed in claim 8, in which said rollers are held in fixed relation to and adjustment with the table by depending posts supported by a beam mounted above and parallel with said table, said beam being provided with a power rotated counter shaft, and driving connections between said counter shaft and the respective rollers for rotating the latter in unison.

10. A linen wrinkle-straightening mechanism, comprising a table, a pair of rollers, mounted in V-shaped relation to each other, for straightening the wrinkles in and feeding the linen across said table, the point of the V being toward one edge of the table and the straightening rollers extending at equal angles with said edge and the direction of feed across the table, the linen to be straightened being adapted to be fed between said rollers and the upper surface of the table, means for rotating said straightening rollers in unison, and means for shifting said rollers about the point of the V to vary the angle therebetween.

11. The linen wrinkle-straightening mechanism as claimed in claim 10, in which power connections are provided for rotating said straightening rollers uniformly and synchrononsly in any position of angular adjustment.

12. The linen wrinkle-straightening mechanism as claimed in claim 10, in which said pair of straightening rollers is maintained in fixed relation to the edge'of the table by a depending post, the axis of which intersects the point of the V, and means is provided for rotatably supporting the respective rollers for bodily shifting movement about the axis of said post.

GEORGE M. BACON. 

